Light restricting ventilator



Oct- 2, 1962 K. w. wEsTERBERG LIGHT RESTRICTING VENTILATOR Filed Dec.19, 1960 kr I S VWWAW INV EN TOR. WEs rERBERc MM A T TORN E YS ls 311-32 al KE NNErH W FIG. 3

United States Patent O 3,056,343 LIGHT RESTRICTING VENTILATOR Kenneth W.Westerberg, Savage, Mian. Filed Dec. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 76,940 2 Claims.(Cl. 98-121) My invention relates generally to ventilating apparatus,and more particularly to ventilating duct construction which permitsfree flow of air therethrough, but Which is adapted to control orrestrict passage of light therethrough.

In the raising of small livestock, such as turkeys, or the like, a greatdeal of care must be exercised, particularly when the birds are veryyoung in providing proper temperature, ventilation and light conditionsfor the birds, inasmuch as the birds are extremely sensitive during thefirst five or six weeks of their existence. An important object of myinvention is therefore, the provision of ventilating apparatus inenclosures for such birds, Which will permit passage of the properamount of ventilation, While enabling passage of light therethrough tothe interior of the enclosure to be controlled or restricted even to apoint wherein light is entirely excluded from passage therethrough. Tothis end, I provide an air conveying duct comprising a duct sectionadapted for mounting to a Wall of the enclosure over a ventilatingopening therein, and a louver-equipped duct section, and novel means forsaid duct section and louverequipped section for removably connectingsaid sections together in end to end relationship.

Another object of my invention is the provision of apparatus as abovedescribed, having novel means for mounting a plurality oflouver-equipped sections together whereby to restrict passage of lighttherethrough to the point of no light passage, while permitting freepassage of air through the duct.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel jointconstruction between adjacent sections which preclude passage of lightto the interior of the enclosure at the joints between sections, andwhich permit quick and easy displacement of one section from another forCleaning or the like, and as quick and easy replacement of the displacedsection.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of novel louverconstruction and arrangement wherein light entering the duct isdeflected in a most advantageous manner to restrict passage of the lightthrough the louverequipped duct section.

Another object of my invention is the provision of apparatus as setforth, which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install, which ishighly eflicient in operation, and which is rugged in construction anddurable 1n use.

The above, and still further highly important objects and advantages ofmy invention will become apparent from the following detailedspecification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in whichlike reference characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the apparatus of myinvention shown as mounted on a vertical wall having a ventilatingopening therein, some parts being broken away and some parts being shownin section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantiallyon the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged fragmentary horizontal section takensubstantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

=ln the preferred embodiment of the invention illus- ICC trated, thenumeral 1 indicates, in its entirety, a cross sectionally rectangularair duct section having generally horizontally disposed top and bottomwalls 2 and 3 respectively, and opposed generally vertical side walls 4.A laterally outwardly projecting marginal flange 5, formed at one end ofthe air duct section 1 provides means for mounting the duct section 1 toa wall or the like 6 about a ventilating opening 7 in the wall 6. Theopening 7 being shown as defined by a conventional frame or the like 8.The frame 8 provides means for mounting a conventional ventilator fan orblower, not shown, if such is desired. Suitable anchoring means, such asscrews or the like 9, extend through the marginal fiange S to mount theduct section 1 to the wall 6.

At its opposite end, the duct section 1 is formed to provide acontinuous marginal flange 10 that projects laterally outwardly from theupper and lower walls 2 and 3 and side walls 4 whereby to provide 'upperand lower horizontally extending portions 11 and 12 respectively andvertically extending side portions 13, the portions 11 and 12 projectingupwardly and downwardly respectively from the top and bottom walls 2 and3 respectively of the duct 1.

A pair of identical air duct sections 14 and 15 are mounted on the innerend of the air duct section 1, each thereof corresponding incross-sectional shape and size to the duct section 1, each thereofhaving vertically spaced top and bottom walls 16 and 17 respectively andlaterally spaced generally vertical side Walls 18. At their oppositeends, the duct sections 14 and 15 are each formed to provide continuousmarginal flanges 19 and 20. The marginal flange 19 of the duct sections14 and 15, as shown the duct section 14, being disposed in face-to-faceabutting relation to the marginal tlange 10 of the duct section 1. Inlike manner, the marginal flange 19 of the duct section 15 is adapted tobe disposed in face-toface abutting relation to the marginal fllange 20of the duct section 14, Whereby the duct sections 14 and 15 are disposedin end-to-end abutting relationship. The fianges 19 and 20, like themarginal flange 10, are continuous, the ilanges 19 having upper andlower portions 21 and 22 respectively that project upwardly anddownwardly from the top and bottom walls 16 and 17 respectively.Vertically extending side portions of the marginal fianges 19 extendlaterally outwardly from the opposite side walls 15, and are identifiedby the reference numeral 23. ln like manner, the flanges 20 havehorizontally extending upper and lower portions 24 and 25 respectivelyand vertically extending portions 26.

For the purpose of releasably locking the duct sections 14 and 15together and to the duct section 1, the upper flange portions 21 haveupper edge portions which are back-turned upon themselves to providedownwardly openings hooks 27 that are adapted to receive selectively theupper flange portion 11 of the duct section 1 or the upper flangeportion 24 of the other duct section 14 or 15. The duct sections 14 and15 being identical, either one thereof may be mounted on the adjacentend of the duct section 1, the other duct section 14 or 15 being mountedon the opposite or free end of the section carried by the ductsection 1. The down-turned hook portions 27 extend across the entirewidth of the tops of the duct sections 1, 14 and 15, and etfectivelyprevent leakage of light in the upper portions of the joints between theabutting flanges 10 and 19 and the abutting flanges 20 and 19. A pair ofvertically extending cross-sectionally U-shaped looking elements 2-8 areslidably mounted on and snugly embrace the abutting vertically extendingflange portions 13 and 23, and a similar horizontally extending crosssectionally U-shaped locking element 29 snugly embraces the lowerhorizontally extending flange portions 12 and 22, to lock the side andbottom portions of the duct section '14 to the adjacent end of the ductsection 1, and to prevent leakage of light outwardly from the interiorof the duct at the joint between the sections 1 and 14. A second pair oflocking elements 23 similarly snugly encompass the side flange portions23 and 26, and a second horizontally disposed locking element 29embraces the abutting bottom flange portions 22 and 25, see FIGS. 1 and2.

Each of the duct sections 14 and 15 is provided with a plurality ifinverted V-shaped louvers 30, each louver 30 comprising downwardlydiverging walls or partitions 31 and 32, and anchoring flanges 33 at theopposite ends thereof, the flanges 33 being spot welded or otherwiserigidly secured to adjacent side walls 18 of the duct sections 14 and15. As shown in FIG. 2, the louvers 30 in each duct section 14 and 15are disposed in semi-nesting relationship. In other words, the apexportion 34 of each louver 30 except the uppermost one thereof isdisposed above the level of the bottom edges of the walls 31 and 32 ofan overlying louver, the walls 31 and 32 being inwardly and downwardlyspaced from corresponding walls of an overlying louver 30. Thesemi-nesting and spaced relationship between adjacent louvers 30 is suchthat a current of air flows freely through the louverequipped ducts Y14and 15, but that light entering the ventilator opening 7 progressivelydiminishes as it is reflected from one louver wall to another. Withreference to FIG. 2 it will be noted that the bottom edges of the =walls311 and 32 of the lowermost louver 30 engage the bottom walls 17, andthat the apex portion 34 of each uppermost louver 30 .engages the topwall 16 of its respective duct section r14- and 15, whereby to excludepassage of light therebetween. Preferably, and in the exemplification ofmy invention illustrated, the angular displacement between the louverwalls 31 and 32 of each louver 30 -is approximately 45 circular degrees,and the apex portion 34 of each louver 30 is disposed upwardly from thelevel of the bottom edges of the walls 31 and 32 of an overlying louver30 approximately one-third the vertical distance between the level ofsaid bottom edges and the apex portion of the overlying louver 30. Theabovedescribed angular displacement between the louver walls 31 and 32,and the semi-nesting relationship between the louvers 30 of eachlouver-equipped section 14 and 15 has proved to be very effective incontrolling or restricting the amount of light which passes through thelouvered sections 14 and IIS. Preferably, the duct sections I1, 14 and15 are made from sheet metal, such as galvanized iron or the like, theinner surfaces of the duct sections, as well as the louvers 30 beingcoated with dark flat paint, if desired, to further reduce lightreflection within the duct sections.

To illustrated the effectiveness of the louver-equipped sections 14 and15 in restricting passage of light when the interiors of the ductsections and louvers are galvanized finished, a single louver-equippedsection '14 or 15 has been found to restrict 50 to 60 percent of lightwaves from a 250 watt lamp placed in the duct section 1, whereas the useof both sections 14 and 15 as shown has been found to restrict 97 to 99percent of the light. Addition of a third louver-equipped sectionaccomplishes total restriction, and no light enters a room through thethree louver-equipped sections in tandem relationship. Further, bypainting the interiors of the louver-equipped sections 14 and 15 with aflat black paint, total light restriction is obtained by using only twolouver-.equipped sections.

When it is desired to clean the interiors of the duct section -1 andlouver-equipped sections 14 and 15, it is only necessary to remove thelocking elements 28 and 29 and to unhook the louver-equipped sectionsfrom each other and from the duct section 1. After cleaning orservicing, each louver-equipped section 14 and 15 is replaced with thedown-turned hook 27 thereof receiving the Lip-turned flange portion 11or 24, and the U-shaped locking elements 28 and 29 replaced.

lIt will be appreciated that, while I have shown and described the ductsections as having generally horizontal top and bottom walls and mountedon a vertical building wall, the duct sections can be as readily mountedto an angular or horizontal wall such as a ceiling or roof. Hence, theduct sections are defined as having horizontal top and bottom walls andvertically extended side Walls, only for the purpose of clearly settingforth the relationship between the several wall portions of the ductsections.

While I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my novellight restricting ventilator it will be appreciated that the same iscapable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. Ventilating apparatus comprising a plurality of cross-sectionallyrectangular duct sections, means for releasably locking said ductsections together in end-to-end tandem relationship, a plurality ofinverted cross sectionally V-shaped louvers disposed in a row in one ofsaid duct sections, means rigidly anchoring said louvers at theiropposite ends to adjacent walls of said one of the duct sections insemi-nesting relationship, each of said louvers comprising integrallyformed louver wall elements diverging downwardly from the apex thereofand defining an included angle of between 30 and 60 circular degrees,each louver except the first one in said row thereof having its apexportion projecting inwardly between the louver wall elements of anadjacent louver a distance between one-fourth and one-half of thedistance between the apex of said adjacent louver and the free edges ofthe louver wall elements thereof, the apex portion of said first louverbeing disposed in abutting relation with the adjacent inner wall surfaceof said one of the duct sections, the free edges of the last louver insaid row thereof abutting the opposite inner wall surface of said one ofthe duct sections, the overlapping and angular relationship between saidlouvers restricting passage o-f light through said duct sections and thespaced relationship between said louvers permitting free passage of airthrough said duct sections.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which each of said duct sectionsincludes outwardly projecting pen'pheral flanges at its opposite ends,the flanges of one duct section abutting the flanges of adjacentsections, a top portion of one of said flanges of each duct sectionbeing downturned to provide a downwardly opening hook extending over thetop portion of the abutting flange whereby one duct section is supportedby the adjacent section.

References Cted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.138,326 Ram-busch July 18, 1944 1,31%,042 Banning Oct. 7, 19192,36i4,271 Carver Dec. 5, 1944 2,400,6l7 Wheeler May 2.1, 1946 2,404,961Hoch July 30, 1946 2,663,246 Smith Dec. 22, 1953

